Kneepad



' C. P. MEEK April 2, 1968 KNEEPAD Filed July 14, 196$ INVENTOR z'cero PMeek ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,375,821 KNEEPAD Cicero P. Meek,105 Jackson Drive, Aiken, S.C. 29801 Filed July 14, 1965, Ser. No.471,927 Claims. (Cl. 128-80) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This inventionrelates in general to a kneepad construction, but it should beunderstood that the device is also applicable for installation on otherparts of the body, as by being mounted upon the elbow. While theinvention is primarily adapted to protect against external blows, suchas those which might be encountered when playing football, it alsoserves as a brace by tending to prevent the joint from being wrenchedsuddenly from its normal position.

While devices of this general type have been designed and used before,they have been subject to a number of shortcomings. For example, suchprior attempts have provided padding for only one portion of the jointon which they are installed, usually at the front in the case of akneepad, and no protection is afforded to the remaining portion of thejoint. Where additional padding has been provided in suflicient amountsto be effective, the resultant device has invariably become so rigidthat it prevents the normal flexing of the joint.

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide akneepad or the like which protects the limb both at the front and therear, as well as on both sides, and which will still enable the joint tobe flexed in the normal manner.

Another object is to provide a kneepad of the type referred to whereinthe pad can be quickly and conveniently installed and one which willtend to stay in position during use.

A more specific object is to provide a kneepad construction having apadding element at the rear thereof which is mounted in a floatingrelationship and can readily adapt itself to the bending of the kneewithout wrinkling or otherwise tending to cause a constriction of thewearers circulation.

Another object is to provide a kneepad which is light in weight,economical to manufacture and variable in size, in order to accommodateany wearer.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view illustrating the kneepad of thepresent invention in installed position;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view on a slightly reduced scale illustrating thekneepad of FIG. 1 in its normal condition prior to installation; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3 -3 of FIG. 2,the rear padding portion thereof being slightly displaced and beingshown only partially in section for the purposes of illustration.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, the kneepad assembly,indicated generally by the numeral 1 in FIG. 1, is illustrated there asbeing mounted on the leg A of a wearer with the central portion thereofbeing 3,3 75,82 1 Patented Apr. 2, 1968 ice mounted directly over theknee B. The device comprises a generally tubular sleeve 2 formed offlexible and elastic material adapted to stretch in all directions. Thesize of sleeve 2 is chosen in order to provide a snug engagement on thewearers leg, and it should normally be of sufiicient length to extendapproximately three inches above and below the level of the kneecap. Theupper and lower ends of sleeve 2 are preferably turned inward andstitched in position to provide hems 3 for comfort and durability.

I A front pad 4 is mounted at the front of sleeve 2 and is held firmlyin position by meansof a sheet 5 of flexible elastic material which isstitched as at 6 to provide a pocket therefor. In the embodiment shown,the sheet 5 is positioned externally of the sleeve 2, but it will beappreciated that the same type of pocket could he formed equally well bydisposing it internally with respect to sleeve 2.

Front pad 4 is preferably of a generally elliptical configuration and islarge enough to fully cover the entire area of the wearers kneecap. Thepocket provided by sheet 5 is similar in size and configuration so thatthe pad 4 is held firmly against movement therein.

In the embodiment illustrated, the front pad 4 is connected at eitherside thereof to rearwardly extending side pad members 7. Side pads 7 mayalso be elliptical in configuration and are of suflicient size to coverthe entire area behind the kneecap, particularly the area where thetendons are disposed. For simplicity of construction, it is desirable tohave the sheet 5 extend rearwardly and be stitched as at 8 to providepocket portions for the side pads 7. Thus, side pads 7 and front pad 4are held rigidly in position as a unit and any tendency for them to slipis inhibited by the tight engagement of the wearers leg A by the upperand lower ends of sleeve 2. It will be recognized, however, that pads 4and 7 do not interfere with the normal flexing action of the knee, sincethey are not disposed rearwardly of the knee in the path of pivotalmovement.

A rear pad 9 is mounted at the back of sleeve 2 and substantially coversthe area between side pads 7. As

opposed to the relatively stationary mounting of pads 4 and 7, the rearpad 9 is mounted in a floating type of re lationship on the inside ofthe rear portion of sleeve 2. This mounting is effected by encasing thepad 9 in a closely fitting cloth sleeve 10 which overlaps the pad 9 atits upper and the lower ends. The overlapping ends of sleeve 10 arestitched as at 11 to the inner wall of sleeve 2. In the embodimentillustrated, the pad 9 is of a generally rectangular elongatedconfiguration, and the sleeve 10 remain unattached between the upper andlower extremities thereof with respect to the sleeve 2. Thus, the entirecentral portion of the pad 9 is free to move independently of sleeve 2and being relatively narrow, tends to freely flex to adapt itself to thearticulated movement of the knee joint. Any wrinkling of the pad rearportion of sleeve 2 during such movement does not have a constrictingeffect on the back of the knee since the pad 9 serves as a cushion. Pads4, 7 and 9 may be formed of any suitable material such as sponge rubber,or any other resilient padding material.

It should be understood that a wide range of modifications may beadopted in the construction, design, or materials employed withoutdeparting from the essential concept and principles of the invention, asoutlined in the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. A protective device for application to a joint on one of the wearerslimbs, comprising: a tubular sleeve member formed of flexible elasticmaterial adapted to snugly engage the wearers limb in the vicinity ofsaid joint; a first resilient pad means mounted in fixed position at theand both the pad 9 front of said tubular sleeve at either side thereof;and a second resilient means comprising a pad member having its upperand lower ends secured to the inner wall of said tubular sleeve at therear portion thereof, said second pad means being otherwise unattachedwith respect to said tubular sleeve and being free to move independentlythereof.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said first means comprises a pad memberis mounted within a pocket of substantially identical size andconfiguration, said pocket being provided by a sheet of flexible elasticmaterial stitched on the front of said tubular sleeve member.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said pad member is of narrowrectangular configuration and is mounted in a closely fitting sleevehaving its upper and lower ends overlapping said second pad and beingstitched to the inner walls of said first-mentioned sleeve, said closelyfitting sleeve and said pad member being otherwise unattached andthereby disposed in a floating relationship.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said second pad means comprisesindividual pad members provided on either side of said tubular sleeveand mounted in'fixedrelation with respect thereto.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said individual pad members are formedas a unit with respect to another pad member disposed at the front ofsaid tubular sleeve.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,122,627 7/1938 Sternberg 2242,270,685 1/1942 Miller 128165 2,423,849 7/1947 Patterson 2-24 2,534,88812/1950 Vold 2-24 2,552,177 5/1951 Hurt 2-24 3,084,685 4/1963 Lewis128--80 3,194,233 7/1965 Peckham 128-80 RICHARD A. GAUDET, PrimaryExaminer.

I. W. HINEY, Assistant Examiner.

